Eric Janes drives the vanagon and BJ Gardiner shoots some footage somewhere near Perryton, TX. View more pics of the run in Perryton, TX.
Today we finished running up to Hopeton, OK and came back and stayed in Waynoka, OK. Wayne LaManyon and Lynn Whipple took us out on the sand dunes in Little Sahara State Park and we had a blast of a time. Unbelievable! Tomorrow we head out to Medford, OK and will stay over in the Best Western in Enid, OK.
Friday we hit Wichita, KS, our eighth state and will pick up a few more members of the team. Shannon Cleary, Rowland Boateng, David Bellona, Patti Janes, Rebecca Janes, and Abbey Saunders. We are very fortunate to be out here and we anticipate many more heartfelt miles, moments, and memories.
Here’s a video of today’s sand dune ride with Lynn.
There is a newly erected chapel on Combat Outpost Cleary, dedicated in 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary’s honor. A note from Father Eric Albertson about the new chapel was posted on Mike’s In Remembrance page just a few days ago.
My name is Father Eric Albertson, and I am the Catholic Priest Chaplain assigned to Multi-National Division, Center, Baghdad, at the time of this entry–July 2008. 10th Mountain now has the HQ, but 3rd Infantry had it for 15 months up to 1 June. I travel our area of operations regularly to provide religious support, and thought you might appreciate these two photos I took. One of the patrol base in our area named after your son, and the other of a chapel built on the patrol base across from his Memorial. The Chapel was built by the Georgian Soldiers, and two of their own recent losses hang in a place of honor next to your son. I was in the Anbar Province with 2nd Infantry Division and redeployed a few months before your son was killed. I am deeply sorry for your loss, and please know that I regularly remember the families of our fallen in my daily prayers. It is truly an honor to be a Chaplain for these fine Americans, but like you, I will never fully recover from harsh tragedy of loss and the heavy grief associated with the sacrifice made by so many of them. May these photos remind you that he is not forgotten. Thank you for your son, and for the contribution he made to the men who served with him and for the sacrifice he made for freedom.
Blessings and prayers, Fr. Eric Albertson, Chaplain (Major), US Army |
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Eric Albertson (Arlington, VA) |
We are on schedule, currently staying at CSS Farms (the Gilley residence) in Dalhart, TX. 
Here is the team just a few days ago in Monticello, UT. Our spirits are just as good as ever after entering Texas today.
Thanks to Jon, Michelle, Ian, & Cameron for opening their home to us. We picked potatoes, fed the chickens and goats, and relaxed in the cool Texas evening. We had our first Texas lunch with the Rotary Club in Dalhart and our first dinner (at the Gilley’s) was complete with fresh farm potatoes, tomatoes, and local beef in the sauce. Grand!
We are planning on arriving in Amarillo, TX at 1pm (Friday) at the Veteran’s Hospital. There we will meet the Patriot Riders, Texas America Supports You, and other great organizations from the area. Tomorrow will be a hard day of running, but every step reminds us. Every step reminds us.
Our run Saturday will begin from the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo approx. 630am. From there we will run up S Georgia St to W Amarillo Blvd, connecting back with Rt. 136 (Fritch Hwy) and the pre-scheduled route on Google and Map My Run.
Thank you to the Gilleys and the town of Dalhart for making our first day/evening in Texas a welcome one.
On Friday, we had the wonderful opportunity to ride on Wayne and Patti Buck’s float in the Bayfield, CO July 4th parade. The parade was complete with tractor pulls, cheerleaders, and a WWII plane fly-by for the kickoff! We ran from Arboles to Wolf Creek that Friday, running for over 60 service members, including Byron Norwood, JP Blecksmith, and Kyle W. Burns.
It was one of the most memorable July 4th’s I have ever experienced. Thank you to Wayne and Patti Buck for their hospitality and graciousness.
